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Hueytown punter overcomes obstacles, now 'living the dream' at Vanderbilt

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Hueytown's Reid Nelson signs autographs at Vanderbilt's recent Fan Day. Nelson is a preferred walkon punter for the Commodores, after moving from tight end to specialist after numerous concussions in high school.
(Picasa)

Nelson is currently going through fall practice as a freshman preferred walk-on punter at Vanderbilt, after playing on special teams for just two seasons at Hueytown. He said that the opportunity to play for an SEC team is something he never imagined could happen.

"It sounds crazy, but I'm kind of fortunate for the change to take place," he said. "If I continued to play tight end in high school, I would never have physically been able to compete in the SEC."

"To be honest, I never thought I would be able to play football at the next level," Nelson said.

Nelson suffered his first concussion his freshman season, and then another one the following fall. His symptoms lasted for two and a half months before he felt normal again; at that point, his family had to make the decision to either quit football or change positions.

He said that it really was a "no-decision" to switch to kicking.

With the help of his father Bobby, a quarterback who also kicked and punted at Jess Lanier High School and the University of West Alabama, and work with kickers at Hoover and Spain Park, Nelson settled into his new position and then thrived at it at Hueytown.

When it was time to consider colleges, Nelson had the opportunity he could have never imagined two years prior.

"My top two choices were Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, but once I was accepted academically into Vanderbilt it was a done deal," he said. "I wanted to be a Commodore."

Now, he said, he's "living the dream" and knows that things worked out the way they were supposed to.

"God works in wonderful and mysterious ways and this was part of His plan for me," he said. "By His grace I was able to find a spot as a specialist in the SEC."

Friends and family members visit with Vanderbilt punter Reid Nelson on Fan Day. Picasa

Nelson attended summer workouts while taking his first college classes, and is now into fall practice. The adjustment to an SEC school, he said, has been both nervous and exciting.

"I was intimidated when I first got here, not knowing anyone and being a freshman I was pretty lost," he said. "The guys have been really accepting and welcoming, especially the upperclassmen. If I ever have a question or just want to talk, they are always there."

Now settling onto campus and into his position, Nelson is determined to learn more and improve his kicking skills.

For a player who wasn't even a punter two years ago, the possibilities are exciting. And the possibility of kicking on an SEC field is real.